A BOUNCER who accidentally suffocated a drunk and violent patron on the floor of a Territory pub has been found not guilty of negligent manslaughter.

Family members of the late Styles King were distraught as they spilled out the doors of the NT Supreme Court, after a jury returned its verdict in the case of former Katherine Hotel security guard Tim Hoermann.

He brushed off questions from the media as he walked out a free man, flanked by supporters, yesterday.

Mr Hoermann’s co-accused Shaun Clark – the duty manager at the bar, known as Kirbys, the night Mr King died – was also found not guilty of the same charge on Friday, nine days into their joint trial.

In a closing address on Monday, Crown prosecutor Matthew Nathan said a man would have to be “something like the Incredible Hulk on a rampage” to be the risk that Mr Hoermann – who is almost 2m tall and weighs about 110kg – claimed Mr King would have posed to him if unrestrained.

Mr King was drinking in the front bar at Kirbys when he attacked Mr Hoermann, who was trying to kick him out.

The victim was put face down on the floor of the pokie room after a violent struggle. Mr Hoermann had him in a headlock, Mr Nathan said, and put his body weight across Mr King’s torso.

Mr Clark pinned one of the victim’s arms behind his back.

John Lawrence SC, for Mr Hoermann, told the jury: “This is life, it isn’t a textbook or a lesson at a security crowd control course.

“Imagine if (Mr Hoermann) had let his detained subject loose – where was that gonna go other than carnage.

“These things happen in the ordinary course of life, in bars, after 10 o’clock at night, when drunken patrons (assault) security officers.”

Mr Nathan said a “10-year-old in the playground” probably knew a neck restraint was dangerous. Pathologist Dr Terrence Sinton gave evidence Mr King suffered a deep tissue injury from “severe pressure”.

“If Mr King was so powerful that two quite large men couldn’t restrain him safely ... knowing the danger of a choke hold, wouldn’t a reasonable person ask for the help of a third man?” he said, adding other staff could have helped.

CLP cabinet minister John Elferink charged taxpayers more than $45,000 for a ‘study trip’ to the United States over the Christmas holidays, including visits to Cape Canaveral Space Base and Universal Studios.